April 30, 2008

Make a comment to this post with a creative Decorating with Flowers Idea to enter the sweepstakes. It can be simple - Be creative! Remember to use either your blogger login or first name and last name so that we can identify you if you win. We will post the winner's name with instructions for collecting your prize, please check back May 20th 2008 to see if you have won!

Giveaway ends May 20th 2008 at midnight PST (and sorry, prizes can only be sent to locations in the US). Good Luck!

April 27, 2008

Here's how we have a really easy and low-calorie Pizza Party with this Thin Crust Dough recipefrom the kitchn and the contents of the refrigerator and store cupboard. Everyone joins in making the dough and selecting their own toppings and as the dough doesn't need to rise we can make the whole thing from scratch in half an hour or so, which is quicker than delivery here.

Method:Pre-heat the oven to 500 degrees. If you have a baking stone, put it oven to heatHeat the water until it's lukewarm. Add the yeast to the water and whisk to stir. Set aside for a few minutes to allow the yeast to dissolve. Measure the flour into a large mixing bowl. Add salt, whisk to combine. Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in the water-yeast mixture. Combine everything together.When it forms a ball, sprinkle a little flour onto a board or countertop and knead the dough on this. Divide the dough into four pieces.Tear off two pieces of parchment paper roughly 12-inches wide. Work one piece of the dough in your hands and form it into a large disk. Lay the disk of dough on the parchment paper. Use a rolling pin or your hands to make a rough circle approximately the size of the parchment. Repeat with the other pieces of dough. The dough will stick to the parchment paper, making it easier for you to roll out. Bake the pizza right on the parchment paper. As it cooks, the dough will come away from the parchment, and you can slide it off the paper before serving.

Toppings:I use either homemade tomato sauce if I have any left over from a pasta dish, but more usually I open a can of Glen Muir Tomato Sauce and spread a couple of tablespoons over the dough, smoothing it over the base to the edges.
On top, there's peppers in olive oil, artichoke hearts, capers, a few asparagus stalks and some sliced green onions with a sprinkling of grated mozzarella on mine (above); anchovies, sauteed onions, capers and black olives on another, bacon and mushrooms on a third, and tomato, sliced mozzarella, basil and extra virgin olive oil for a classic Pizza Margherita on the last.Depending on the size of your oven bake one or two pizzas at a time (on the parchment paper) on a baking sheet or pizza stone for about 5 minutes, then rotate the pizza 180-degrees and bake for another 3 minutes, rotate 90- degrees and bake for another 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle a little extra cheese over the top, turn 90-degrees again and bake for just 2 more minutes until the edges are golden brown and crispy.

Remove your pizza from oven and let it cool for five minutes or so while you bake the remaining pizzas. This is the difficult part as they look and smell so good. In fact there is no after-baking shot of this pizza because it was devoured before I could get to my camera.

Deliciously light and crispy, they require only a large salad and a glass of Chianti to make a perfect supper party with very little clean up either.

April 22, 2008

Patti:"How about a "Springing From Your Garden" party for your friends. Provide inexpensive, colorful flower pots, pansies or seedlings from a nursery, and some dirt. Let each person plant a couple of pots of flowers (or herbs, hot peppers, etc) to take home with them. Serve simple hors d'oeuvres on spring themed floral plates and enjoy good friends and conversation. Send everyone home with the promise that Spring has sprung."

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Thank you to everyone who participated! Check back often to Create My Event for more giveaways!

April 21, 2008

Last week, I did an Etsy posting on my site Modern Vintage featuring Crankbunny's delicious popup cards. I was so impressed with how gorgeous they are, I wanted to come up with more unique ways to use these cards for a fabulous party.

Check out these pretty butterfly cards and use them to scribble your event menu and display them on each place setting for a chic Spring Soiree.

As your guests tug on the tab, your menu will appear when the butterfly flaps its wings up. How divine?

There's something so magically nostalgic about Popups; using them in your table top setting will surely add a whimsical touch to a chic dinner, garden party or afternoon tea. Check out Crankbunny's Etsy shop for more and please post some unique and fabulous ideas on how you would incorporate these paper beauties into your next fete!

MethodCream the butter and cup of sugar. Add the salt, lemon
zest, vanilla extract, and whole eggs, beating well after each
addition. Gradually stir in flour and almonds. Finish the mixing by
hand and shape into 2 12"x6" rectangles. Place these on a baking
sheet 4" apart. Whisk the egg white until foamy and brush over the
tops. Sprinkle the tablespoon of sugar over the dough and bake in a
pre-heated 375F oven for 20-25 minutes. Remove and let cool on the tray
for 1 hour. Then slice on the diagonal into 1/2" slices. Lower the oven
temperature to 325F and bake for a further 10 minutes or so until drip
and crisp.Serve with espresso, or fruit salad with whipped cream.

April 13, 2008

Since I posted the Easy Frozen Yogurt recipe a couple of weeks ago I have been serving it at family dinners and parties and giving tubs of it to friends and neighbors. After getting their feedback I thought that today I would share some of the favorite topping suggestions. In no particular order they include four store-bought items and one recipe that rivals the Frozen Yogurt in its simplicity:

MethodPut frozen fruit in a microwave proof bowl and leave to thaw. Pour in the Creme de Cassis, stir, then sprinkle over the sugar and mix thoroughly. Microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes. Ladle into a serving pitcher and pour over the Frozen Yogurt. Deliciously decadent.

April 07, 2008

Last week, I attended New York Magazine's Wedding event and the slew of participating caterers like Crave Catering + Events, R Cano Events and Sterling Affair put together fabulously inspiring presentations of treats and food so beautiful you wonder if they're edible!

For your next event, follow suit and forgo the normal cake and tea stand display. Instead, "landscape" your buffet setup by blending your floral arrangement with hors d'oeuvres and sweets. Use "natural resources" like banana leaves, a planter with some cut grass and nature-mimicking food items, like large sugar crystals that Crave Catering used to display their sugar-apples on.

For more on other inspirational wedding and party ideas I gathered from this event, please check out Modern Vintage Designs.

April 06, 2008

It's Sunday and it's cold and I have a longing for Afternoon Tea. Not the fancy tea they serve in restaurants with finger sandwiches and dainty cakes but a more rustic variation with apple scones. Apple scones are traditionally not cut into individual rounds before baking, rather the dough is rolled into a large circle and sliced into wedges when it comes out of the oven. While not as refined as tea scones they are equally delicious, moister and less sweet.

Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. Rub in the butter until crumbly. Mix in sugar and grated apple. Add enough milk to form a soft but not sticky dough.Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface into a 8" circle. Place on greased baking sheet, brush top with milk, and sprinkle with sugar. Mark into 8 wedges. Bake at 400 degrees F for 20-25 minutes.

Traditionally these are served warm with butter and perhaps a thin
slice of cheddar cheese but I think they're equally good with creme
fraiche and and a fruity preserve. And, of course, a nice cup of tea.

April 04, 2008

"Several months ago we hosted a fun going away party for some dear friends. The husband moved immediately while the rest of the family stayed here tying to sell the home. Things with the new job were not as promised/expected, so the husband is back and has found a new and better job here! The couple now wants to host a "We're Staying" party. Any suggestions for the wording of the invitation??"

Make a comment to this post with a creative Spring party theme idea to enter the sweepstakes. It can be simple - Be creative! Remember to use either your blogger login or first name and last name so that we can identify you if you win. We will post the winner's name with instructions for collecting your prize, please check back April 20th 2008 to see if you have won!

Giveaway ends April 20th 2008 at midnight PST (and sorry, prizes can only be sent to locations in the US). Good Luck!